Prague - what to do and how expensive?

[doris9034]

We're going to Prague for a long weekend just before Christmas and I'm looking for ideas!!
Hoping there will be some Christmas markets, but what else is there to do / should we try not to miss? It's our first abroad holiday for a good few years so want to make the most of it!
Also, how expensive is food and drink? We'll be eating out for 3 days so want to get a rough idea of budget required!
Thanks in advance!

We have just got back, it is a wonderful city!

Price wise the exchange rate means it is no longer cheap, but it is cheaper than London. A good coffee in a bar/restaurant/cafe will be less than £3.50 even in high profile places like the roof terrace at the dancing house or outdoors on old town square. A cup of mulled wine about £2. A filling and hearty soup will be less than a fiver, a beer less than £3.

Lots of places accept euros as well as czk and plastic is accepted almost everywhere so don't worry about getting lots of currency.

Make sure you visit the municipal hall, and have a meal or drink in the pilsner bar or the cafe. Neither are particularly expensive but both stunning historic interiors, the pilsner bar has a happy hour from I think 3pm -6pm when beer is half price.

Loads of things to see and do, entrance fees are generally under £10 but often include several things, so one ticket gets you into all of the Jewish quarter sites, another does multiple sites in the cathedral complex.

It is bloody cold so take warm coats, but lots of places are very warm indoors so go for warm outer layers rather than thermal underwear.

In terms of things not to miss, make sure you visit St Vitus Cathedral, walk over the Charles Bridge both in daylight and at night. Visit the municipal hall.

There's a lovely view from the top of the tower on old town square, you can see the back of the Astronomical Clock and look down on the old town from above.

The cafe on the roof of the Dancing house gives you free access to the roof terrace if you buy a drink.

There is so much more to do but St Vitus, the Charles Bridge, municipal hall and old town square are my highlights if you do nothing else.

Thank you so much - this is super helpful!!
We are staying in Wenceslas Square - are all of these places close by?

Go for a private beer spa! So much fun...
www.spa-relax.cz/en/beer-spa/

Also, Absolutni Bowling - if you want to try classic food at normal local prices - old style Czech restaurant in the Holesevice district (5 minutes tram ride from the city centre) which has a bowling alley too.
Also, close to there is Cross Club, a huge, quirky bar with old bus seats as furniture and antique sewing machines on the tables, equally popular with tourists and locals. https://www.crossclub.cz/en/contact/?secured=1

OMG - that looks amazing!!

I like the sound of Cross Club!

Take very warm clothes! I haven't been for years but I have never been so cold, beautiful sunny days but even my teeth were cold!

I haven't been there for 12 years, but looks like it's all still going strong!
Also, depending how long you're there for, Cesky Krumlov is gorgeous for a day trip, but I don't recommend the ossuary at Kutna Hora unless you are a very committed Goth (very long bus ride for a tiny church crammed with skeletons).
https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/cesky-krumlov-l1189/day-trips-tc172/

Everything is walkable or easy to reach by public transport https://pid.cz/en/
You can buy day ticket. It's about £4 for 24 hour ticket.

You will have Christmas market right on wenceslav square. And many other squares.
Tourist spots can be pricey, smaller places on a side are cheaper.

Be by the astronomical clock before whole hour. Prague castle, St Vitus square and the Golden Lane are absolutely worth it. I think they still have the crosbow shooting there inside. Wander around you will find many interesting places like churches and nunneries. Advent workshops around where you can make nice things.
Bethlehems. Google Prague bethlehems. Many and beautiful done.

Plenty to do for 2 weeks so you will have your work cut out to fit it in a weeend. Enjoy 🎄🍻

Next time go in a summer and visit Castles around. They are great

We’ve just come back and as others have said it is extremely cold so go prepared. Something not already mentioned is the KGB museum. The trip advisor review says it’s ‘mad as a box of frogs’ which is a pretty fair description. It’s an hour or so of memorabilia explained by an absolute nutcase who is presumably a former KGB agent. He certainly knows a lot about how to kill people. So not for the squeamish but a completely bizarre experience.

I came on to say this! Really seriousy outstanding.

The National Technical Museum sounds boring but is actually one of my favourite museums in the world.

St Nicolas cathedral

Going 2 weeks today so this is great to read. Just hope I can stand the cold ……

That's when we're going!! Trying to work out how to take all my fluffy jumpers in my miniature size EasyJet acceptable bag!!!!

The museum of illusions is so worth a visit! Be prepared to take many pictures.
Also a river cruise just as its getting dark is lovely
Illusion Art Museam

We stayed at the Ibis in Wenceslas Square. It's literally a 5-8 minute walk down into the town.

We went last October 2022 and had an amazing 4days. We really loved it.

We stayed just off Wenceslas Sq. The city is very walkable but you might want to get a tram for some of the further out places. It is quite a walk up a hill to the castle.

Depending which end of Wenceslas Sq, Old town square and Charles Bridge are very close.

If you want to go up the furnicular to Petrin Tower then you can use a tram day ticket.

Don't bother, wear a duvet coat take a hat scarf and gloves then just normal winter tops.

Every walking tour I've taken in Prague has been absolutely fantastic. Pick any one from the companies by the clock tower

Also going with EasyJet but booked as a holiday so get hold luggage, which on reflection isn’t ideal for a city break and public transport 🤷🏻‍♀️. Probably going to take one medium size case between us.

Just bought some brilliant gloves from Costco which are toasty and waterproof.

The Castle is lovely.

Try goulash on bread.

The pilsners are world-class.

I went 18 years ago and visited the natural history museum. It was hilarious. There were these stuffed squirrels in a display case. Bulging eyes! Stuff of nightmares! Hopefully the exhibits have improved.

No problem with suitcase in public transport. Very easy to navigate ime.

The cold is different, it's often dryer than UK's one so it doesn't burrow into your bones and under your clothes if you have winter clothes.
You can buy thermal under layers if you don't want to carry big items. Iirc lidl makes cheap ones but ok

If you don't want to use public transport with a case an Uber from the airport is under £25.